Freedom Fighters Community

What is Float Therapy?

The art of Float Therapy involves lying back into body-temperature water in a sound-proof, light-proof 'tank' or 'pod' filled with 1000L of pristine water and 550kgs of Epsom Salt. Float therapy is a great way to achieve deep relaxation within your body and mind. This deep relaxation is achieved by allowing your body the freedom to float weightlessly in a concentrated salt solution. The silent darkness of this bliss filled sanctuary allows your mind to remove all the white noise and sensory input of the external world, where you can easily slip into a deeply relaxed and meditative state. By freeing your mind from all outside distractions, your body can focus on repairing and rejuvenating itself.

The concentrated Epsom salt solution is extremely buoyant with high levels of magnesium sulphate, which is easily absorbed transdermally (through the skin), helping to ease muscular pain, alleviating stress and promote relaxation. Floating is both safe and simple. You firstly shower, get in the roomy floatation pod, lie down and let your mind and body release built up stress, anxiety and tension. The positive effects of floating can often last for several days.

Floating During Pregnancy

We see a common theme of pregnant clients coming out after a float session and reporting that the experience felt similar to being back in the womb (if only we could remember this!). You can only imagine the feeling of floating in the warm inviting cocoon of the float tank whilst pregnant. No other group have reported such instant positive effects from floating as much as our pregnant clients!

As with a lot of pregnant clients that enquire, you may be curious about whether it is safe to float during pregnancy? Whilst most doctors have no concern with floating in pregnancy, as with most treatments and activities it is advised to get the ok from your medical professional in the first trimester. It is a known fact that as you go through the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, gravity isn’t exactly in your favour. The lower back becomes increasingly sore, there is discomfort in your muscles and joints, and fluid is retained in your swelling feet and ankles. The zero gravity environment of the float pod offers an hour of weightlessness for a pregnant mum, with the pressure taken off all their limbs, lower back, and their abdomen area. That’s not even the best part, the positive effects of the magnesium in your system last for days after, with increased energy, fluid retention reduced and improved quality of sleep.

Whilst at this stage there haven’t been many research studies conducted specifically on just float therapy in pregnancy, there are known benefits of floating during pregnancy that stand out, and also play a key role in a healthy pregnancy.

Why you need to try Float Therapy if you are pregnant

1. Better Sleep Quality

As a pregnant mama’s belly grows and expands each week, it can become increasingly difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Many women experience disrupted sleep, which can develop into insomnia. The magnesium in the Epsom Salts can act as a muscle relaxant, as well as assisting in lowering stress hormones, therefore floating is a great natural alternative to sleep-inducing medications. The effects from floating can last for several days after, so it can help tired mums get into a relaxed, healthy sleep routine.

2. Magnesium Absorption for Prenatal Health

Magnesium is essential for many different functions in our bodies, particularly during pregnancy. Magnesium Sulfate is found in the Epsom Salts used in the float pod, this is what creates the buoyancy with the water. We can absorb a high amount of magnesium through our skin so this is a great way to ensure you’re getting the recommended intake throughout pregnancy.

3. Relief from Stress

There are many studies showing positive results with floating reducing stress levels. A lot of first-time expectant mums are nervous and stressed leading up to the birth of their baby, not to forget mum’s that already have a toddler or young child to care for! The Epsom Salts, combined with the sensory deprivation environment of the float pod allows you the opportunity to go into a theta brain wave state, where stress hormones are lowered, at the same time as your happy, feel good brain chemicals are increased (with effects lasting for days after). If your stress levels can be reduced during pregnancy, this could also help with healthy development for the baby. Meditation is a great practice to aid in stress relief, and no better environment to meditate than the float pod!

4. Physical Comfort during Pregnancy

We have to admit one of our favourite moments experienced at our beautiful centre is seeing the happy and very relaxed faces of pregnant mama’s as they walk out of their float room. We’ve even witnessed tears of gratitude and relief as they’ve described how it felt after 7+ months of pregnancy to be weightless for an hour. To feel all the added pressure release from their lower back, their tummy, and inflammation easing in their swollen ankles is a wonderfully unique experience. Most women experience aches and pains from carrying a baby (or for some more than one baby) around for months, so you can imagine that the weightless environment of the float pod can provide instantaneous relief. We have several ‘floating during pregnancy’ positions that we can recommend for maximum comfort, and will also put extra floating devices into the pod for you for extra comfort, so let our staff know when booking the appointment in or when you arrive and we will be more than happy to accommodate the most relaxed experience for the expectant mum!

5. "The Mirror Effect"

The float pod is like a womb within a womb for the little human growing inside you! This bonding experience is known in the float community as the “mirror effect”.You couldn’t get a more perfect setting to bond with your baby than in the silent, darkened environment of the float pod. A lot of our pregnant clients have reported feeling their unborn baby’s movements more, or that their baby was really relaxed (bonus for you if it is towards the end of the pregnancy to have a chilled bub).

As well as these modalities we also have a range of workshops running at the moment focusing on pregnancy. This includes several 5-week Hypnobirthing courses available. We currently have two ladies running the Hypnobirthing course at Freedom Float - Kirsty (from Birth in Harmony) and Karen (from Believe, Breathe, Birth).

Hypnobirthing - The Mongan Method

The Mongan Method is a complete childbirth education program that teaches expectant couples to view birth as a normal, natural, healthy part of life rather than a medical emergency. In the absence of fear and tension, a woman’s body is uniquely and perfectly designed to birth comfortably, calmly and safely. HypnoBirthing dispels the myths and fears that lead to anxiety and negative expectations about the process of normal childbirth. Working with Kirsty, parents will learn powerful relaxation techniques that enable mothers to be as nature intended during labour and birth. You will leave the course each week feeling empowered, relaxed and informed ready for your birthing day. For more information about Hypnobirthing - The Mongan Method, please contact Karen or Kirsty :)

Pregnancy Meditation Circles

We also have a weekly pregnancy meditation circle for all women to come and share, learn and relax with their bubs, run by Nurture Birth. Nurture Birth also holds weekend workshops. The key skills being evidence and experience based birth knowledge, body/mind connection, active birth techniques, guided relaxation and more. For more information on NurtureBirth's meditation circles and workshops, visit the Nurture Birth page.

There’s no better time to take the best possible care of your mind and body than during pregnancy! After all, you’re floating for two. Feel free to phone our centre on (07) 5535 7778 to chat to one of our staff about booking a float or other service to support you in your pregnancy!

Since opening our doors almost two years ago we have seen many clients present with stress, anxiety and depression symptoms. A surprisingly significant amount have been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). PTSD is a debilitating disorder that can develop after an individual survives an accident, combat, form of abuse, natural disaster, or even witnessing a traumatic event. Feeling fear and panic during a dangerous situation is normal (essentially, that is our fight-or-flight response), but PTSD develops when those stress response feelings and symptoms linger long after the trauma has passed, affecting daily activities, relationships, quality of sleep and other areas of life.

Many PTSD sufferers have been finding solace in the calming environment of the float therapy pod. The float pod is 12 inch deep of skin temperature water with 500kg of saturated epsom salt solution. You are in complete control of having your light switch on or off, and the door open or closed. The comfortable float pod environment is stimuli-free, where PTSD sufferers feel safe to address any trauma memories and triggered thought responses. It can be likened to an internal counselling session.

Floating in a float tank suppresses the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system which when active produces the ‘fight or flight’ stress response. This then activates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for relaxation and healing. Some physical symptoms of the relaxation response are decreased muscle tension, decreased blood pressure, decreased stress hormones and increased energy hormones. Other PTSD symptoms can be alleviated such as; Deep relaxation, reduction in anxiety levels, a feeling of well-being that is similar to anti-anxiety medications and an improvement in sleep and insomnia symptoms.

Researchers and Neuro-Scientists worldwide have been conducting research studies on the positive benefits of float therapy, particularly for PTSD and mental health conditions. Last year Time magazine released an article featuring an Australian Veteran, who after suffering severe PTSD post serving in military, discovered float therapy gave him significant relief from his symptoms. You can read this article via: http://time.com/floating/.

In conjunction with a prescribed treatment plan, float therapy is giving positive outcomes and results to PTSD, Anxiety and Depression sufferers. It has been a most humbling and rewarding journey witnessing many of our float community that have suffered PTSD and other mental health conditions, having an improved quality of life due to floating regularly.

If you or a loved one are suffering from PTSD and wanting more info feel free to give our friendly team a call on (07) 5535 7778.

In a modern world, constant external stimuli, cause unreal amounts of stress on a person. Studies show that high levels of stress have a negative impact on brain function. Memory problems, anxiety, learning difficulties... the negative effects are endless. Some Neuroscientists have even shown that chronic stress can cause a difference in grey and white matter in the brain, as well as the size and connectivity of the amygdala and a number of neurons in the brain.

One of the latest alternative medicine trends is all about sensory deprivation and it may well be the answer to your stress. One of the many primary benefits of Float Therapy is *drum roll* stress reduction! In this intense modern world we live in, we are constantly subjected to a wave of external stimuli. The fast emergence of technology has led us to a world of sitting hunched over at desks rushing to complete work. Our intense daily lives can lead to extreme physical and mental stress which can have a really bad impact on our overall health and wellbeing.

Our float tanks are filled with 550kg of high-grade magnesium sulphate (epsom salt), which is just as concentrated as the dead sea, meaning you will completely float. The weightlessness will send you into deep relaxation and bliss.

FAR Infrared Sauna's helps sooth your mind by enveloping your body from the inside-out in a relaxing warmth. Designed for maximum comfort, you can loosen your body and mind. In this modern world, it is important to take some time off for yourself. Alone time is maximised in the sauna and gives you an opportunity to practise mindful meditation to reflect and move on from the stressors in your daily life.

On top of helping manage your stress, the sauna can:

improve detoxification and flush out toxins and heavy metals in your body

help you relax

support your immune system and facilitate in increasing your white blood cell count

assist in weight control by burning fat cells, calories and fluid retention

Remedial massage combines a variety of gentle and deep tissue techniques to lengthen or stretch muscles to improve body movement and reduce pain. Remedial massage is great for reducing stress as it opens up the muscles and flushes your body with fresh, vibrant nutrients, oxygen and water - the fundamental elements of life.

when stressed muscles tighten and reduce the amount of blood allowed through. Massaging these muscles hydrates and feeds then so they are soft and vibrant.

Pain is often caused by muscle fibres that bundle under stress. These are called trigger points. Releasing these points often reduce stress related symptoms like headaches and muscle fatigue.

Remedial massage is amazing for stress relief as it opens muscles and revitalises them with fresh blood, oxygen and nutrients. Dissolving tight muscles trigger points will release headaches and improve stress related symptoms. Your visit with Adrian will be nurturing and revitalising, with a primary focus on dissolving muscles stress with whatever techniques the customer favours you will walk out feeling calm and connected with your body. Remember, all treatments are tailored to your needs.

Kinesiology helps us identify the causes of stress by accessing the many and varied subconscious connections that lead to a stressed state of being. By working with the subconscious mind to unlock and integrate past experiences and events so the body can begin to let go of stress.

Kinesiology is a healing modality used to identify and reduce stress on many different levels. Many external stressors such as workplace, family, relationship and financial pressures will trigger an internal emotional response. This usually also triggers a physical adrenal response which can cause the stress to come out somewhere physically in your body. Often we know when we are feeling stressed, but find it difficult to step out of this fight or flight mode and to know how to cope. During your Kinesiology session, you will learn the tools and techniques to switch the brain from this survival stress state to fundamental executive functioning. The result? We can begin to return the nervous system to a balanced state which has an immediate physiological impact - calmness, relaxation, clarity and rationality.

Kinesiology works with the Chinese medicine system and Ayurvedic chakra system to balance energy centres as well as teaches us new strategies for understanding and coping with stress to help us better deal with future situations.

How Kinesiology can relieve stress:

emotional release

balance the nervous system

return to a state or calm and clarity

identify causes of stress

teaches you tools for coping

What can you expect from your first Kinesiology session with Sarah?

You are asked to gently lay back and relax. Sarah will take your case history of the problem and set a goal to work towards

Sarah will perform muscle testing to gather a complete picture of health from a physical, mental, emotional, biochemical and spiritual perspective through the mind and body connection

After finding stored emotions, stress and blockages, Sarah will use a variety of techniques to help bring your body back into balance

After the session, Sarah will email you a summary of the balance and provide you with tools and ideas to help your healing journey

Sarah loves be able to nurture her clients and find the cause of the problem. With her background and love for exercise and nutrition, she believes that no matter how healthy you eat or how much you train if you store emotions, it will always end up storing somewhere in your body or coming back as an illness.

Naturopathy utilises a wide array of natural remedies and techniques to restore and maintain health in a way that encourages and support's the body's own innate ability to heal itself.

Stress is experienced differently by everyone, however most of us can relate to a feeling of mental/emotional strain which may result from an adverse or demanding circumstance in our lives. This feeling it stimulated by the brain when we perceive a threat to our wellbeing. Therefore, the physical responses occurring within the body when we are stressed are still the same survival mechanisms that would have occurred thousands or years ago. These include: blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar, along with decreased digestion and immune function. Our bodies generally handle this quite well, however, when it is sustained for months or even years at a time, it can become very harmful for your body. Chronic stress can cause toxic by-products to damage our tissue, exhaust our adrenal glands and deplete the body's nutrients.

Naturopathy can help you learn how to manage stress in your life as well as discover the necessary supplements you need for a healthy bodily balance. Brooke has written 6 tips on how to manage your stress effectively.

Breathe - stress can cause us to shallow breathe which limits the amount of oxygen. This can result in sighing, yawning, dizziness and fatigue. When you're feeling stressed, take a moment to stop what you're doing and breathe. This helps to calm the body and reduce the stress response.

Avoid stimulants - Stress causes our bodies to be stimulated, so consuming things such as coffee, energy drinks and sugar, can further increase the stress response. Choose to eat foods that nourish the body such as, fresh fruit and vegetables, avocado, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, oily fish and teas such as chamomile and lavender.

Exercise - 30 minutes a day has been shown to significantly reduce stress levels, psychological well-being, physical health, life satisfaction and cognitive function.

Magnesium - Low levels of magnesium seems to be common in those who lead busy lifestyles which suggests that stress may increase the elimination of magnesium in the body. Magnesium supplementation can relieve muscle tension, reduce feelings of stress, worry and anxiety and improve feelings of wellbeing and sleep quality.

Kava - Kava works with the central nervous system to exert a calming effect throughout the body with no side effects of sedation. It can also relieve muscle tension and improve sleep.

Relax - Daily relaxation techniques such as meditation, walking in nature, reading or massage can bring balance to the nervous system.

Traditional Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture is based upon the concepts of Qi, blood and fluid movement within the body. Symptoms of stress often represent areas of excess or deficiency within the body – take for example insomnia. Insomnia represents an excess of Qi (energy) in the mind resulting in poor sleep.

There are also numerous emotional and physical disorders that have been linked to stress including:

depression

anxiety

heart attacks

stroke

hypertension

immune system disturbances that increase susceptibility to infections

a host of viral linked disorders ranging from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and certain cancers

autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis

Stress can also have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives, atopic dermatitis, the gastrointestinal system, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis) and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. In fact, it’s hard to think of any disease in which stress cannot play an aggravating role or any part of the body that is not affected. Acupuncture appears to have moderate evidence in the reduction of some of the above signs/symptoms, via various studies on randomised controlled trials (RCT’s) or pooled effect models. Essentially, stress is something we all need to mitigate as it affects our physiology in a negative way. Traditional Chinese Medicine is all about balance. Regular Acupuncture as well as, exercise, eating a varied diet and staying warm throughout the winter months will assist you in maintaining good health.

What is Kinesiology and how does it assist in pain management?

Kinesiology encompasses holistic health corrections, such as: ESR, bodywork and visualisation. Using the gentle art of muscle testing, Kinesiology accesses information about an individuals health. Each muscle in our body is connected to our brain through the physical and nervous systems. Blockages are identified using gentle, non-invasive techniques. Often caused by emotional trauma, unresolved stress, physical injury or insufficient nutrition in our diet, Kinesiology helps us access certain information to assist the natural healing process.

Sarah is a qualified Kinesiologist, personal trainer and Naturopath student who is passionate for health and well-being. She believes that an individual has three states of being: mental, physical and spiritual, and that, for maximum health and healing potential, a person must treat all three. Using a holistic approach of treatment, Sarah believes in finding and treating the cause of the imbalance within the body, rather than just treating the symptoms.

What can you expect from your session?

tapping

emotional release

magnets

oils

crystals

homeopathic remedies

nutritional advice

affirmations

What can Kinesiology help treat?

allergies

depression

postural problems

poor performance levels

learning

relationship difficulties

digestive and nervous disorders

We would like to extend the warmest welcome to Sarah, as our newest therapist here at Freedom Float Centre. To Book, call us on (07) 5535 7778 or click here.

How can Naturopathy help you with pain management?

Naturopathic medicine is based on identifying and treating the cause of imbalance within the body, rather than just suppressing symptoms. It encompasses the use of both herbal and nutritional medicine. The cause of pain is inflammation, which is an immune response stimulated by the body to repair damaged tissues. These pain signals are the body’s way of communicating with us to let us know something is wrong so that we can help it to heal.

How can we reduce pain?

Quite easily with 3 easy steps..

1. We need to ensure we are getting enough blood flow to the area and a great facilitator of this is Turmeric. Turmeric improves circulation, enabling our blood to carry the nutrients necessary for repair to the damaged area. You can increase your intake of turmeric in the diet by using a powdered form in cooking (especially in curries, yum!) or in a turmeric latte, adding fresh grated turmeric to a salad/stir-fry or using it to make a tea.

2. Reduce your intake of inflammatory foods. Inflammatory foods include all fast and processed foods, especially those containing processed meats, wheat, sugar and dairy. These foods can cause inflammation throughout the whole body (systemic inflammation), which can further damage already injured tissues causing more pain in the affected area.

3. Opt for an anti-inflammatory diet. Anti-inflammatory diets are high in foods that contain anti-inflammatory properties, such as all unprocessed vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, and herbs and spices such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, thyme and rosemary. These foods can help to lower systemic inflammation and therefore reduce pain.

Of course, there are many ways to manage pain and often a multimodality approach is necessary. Regular massage, acupuncture, float therapy, kinesiology, physiotherapy and sauna use are but some of the other therapies to consider for relief from chronic pain.

Check out this picture taken straight from Brooke's stunning website:

Brooke is available every Wednesday & health fund rebates are available.

You may have had a remedial massage before, BUT, have you had Integrative Remedial Therapy?

What is Integrative Remedial Therapy?

Integrative Remedial Therapy combines physical, energetic and technological therapies for holistic wellness. Kylie is a qualified Remedial Massage Therapist who specialises in Energy Medicine. She works from the premise that your biography becomes your biology. Energy Medicine involves the belief that when pain is experienced in the physical structure, it is the result of energetic, emotional and mental patterns of disorganisation stored within the Human Energy Field. Kylie works deeply with your mental and physical state to provide wellness and relaxation.

IRT is a multi-modality therapy encompassing:

Remedial Massage

Reiki

SCENAR

How can Integrative Remedial Therapy help with your pain?

Essentially, Kylie uses a multi-modality approach combining Remedial Massage with Reiki and SCENAR Therapy to alleviate pain caused my mental, energetic and emotional stresses. Integrative Remedial Therapy works on a deeper level, influencing the flow of healing energy that promotes a sense of balance and leads to pain relief in patients suffering from chronic pain in a variety of conditions. Unlike most other treatments, Reiki is a multi-purposed method that can heal both physical and emotional ailments. Studies show that through Reiki, some patients suffering from pain due to cancer, injury, or psychological or emotional distress have found relief where other methods were not successful.

THE RESULT?

reduced pain and tension

feelings of TOTAL relaxation and rejuvenation

reduced muscle tenseness

improved range of motion

reduced fatigue

reduced anxiety and depression

Hear what Kylie has to say:

"Utilising a combination of Clairvoyant Insight, Energetic Channelling, Reiki, Remedial Massage and SCENAR Therapy, regular Integrative Remedial Treatments work with you 'behind the scenes' to bio-hack your Central Nervous System and shift your perspective on Health and Wellbeing. By approaching the body as a consciously interacting energetic and informational system rather than a mechanical structure. Energy Medicine works to facilitate simultaneous insight and change by connecting us to the ‘meaning’ of our pain, rather than seeing it as something that needs to be fought. By identifying the underlying attitudes and thought forms reflected in the physical dysfunction, releasing the associated energetic blockages contained within the central nervous system, and realigning you to inherent patterns of balance and healthy function, Energy Medicine disconnects you from the thoughts, emotions and circumstances that divert your life force at an energetic level and allows you to re-focus your energy towards prevention rather than management or cure.

Book in with Kylie by calling us on (07) 5535 7778 or Book Online now!

Have you ever tried Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice over 2000 years old. It has been used to treat many conditions and relieve pain. The process involves being thoroughly examined and diagnosed and then tiny needles ~ 0.18mm thin to be exact ~ are inserted into the skin to stimulate different points (known as acupoints) of the body depending on the individuals needs.

Acupuncture is commonly used to treat many types of pain including: Acute and Chronic lower back pain, Plantar heel pain, Shoulder impingement syndrome, Neck pain, Temporomandibular pain (jaw), Irritable bowel syndrome, Constipation and Menstrual pain. If you are in the hands of a good Acupuncturist, the experience of reducing pain should be relatively pain-free, no matter where it is.

Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for the following diseases, symptoms or conditions:

Still in pain? YOU probably haven't seen our Remedial Massage Therapist yet!

In many cases, chronic pain starts with an injury or illness. When this pain persists beyond 6 months, it is considered chronic pain, which can be very debilitating and cause further complications that can worsen pain. Individuals with chronic pain often report some level of fear, irritability, anxiety and depression.

Remedial massage assists with two main causes of pain:

1. Pain from the muscular trigger points caused by fibers of the muscles bundling together and not releasing, and

2. Pain from the skeletal/joint system which is not working efficiently due to muscle tightness and weakness. Most muscle tightness comes from repetitive tasks we do at work such as sitting at computers, driving cars or standing for long periods. Muscle weakness comes from those opposing muscles not being used whilst at work.

ADRIAN is a remedial massage therapist and teacher with over 5 years experience. He specialises in lower back pain, shoulder impingement, headaches, poor posture, pregnancy massage, stress relief, sports massage and improved flexibility.

"Whilst remedial massage is the fastest most effective way to release such pains it is important to break up your work environment with stretching, walking, using heat packs, foam rolling and changing your work desk arrangement around. Doing some strength training on weak muscles before or after work helps to bring your body back into balance. With monthly massages and continual listening and responding to your body you can work towards a pain free life" - Adrian.

What do you need to know before your massage?

If you're planning on working out, do it BEFORE your massage

Drink coffee before, not after

Avoid eating heavy meals 1-2 hours prior

Have a warm shower

During your massage:

Tell your therapist if it hurts. Too much pressure? Not enough pressure? Let us know as we want you to have the BEST experience!

RELAX

How you can stay feeling GOOD after your massage?

Drink water!

Eat a light snack

Avoid coffee, soft drinks and alcohol

Have a bath

Notice the effects on your body

RELAX!

Massage helps to increase the circulation of the blood and lymphatic system. Water helps to keep the blood moving to bring oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and organs. It also helps to remove waste products created by cells in these areas. You lymphatic system helps to remove the toxins in you body and serves as the fluid transport between cells and the bloodstream. Without water, the lymphatic system can not do it's job properly - leading to low immunity, aches, pains and fatigue.

Sick of being in pain?

Call us on (07) 5535 7778 or Book Online to get your remedial massage fix!

Adrian is available on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. Health fund rebates available instantly.

When was your last FAR Infrared Sauna?

While traditional sauna's use steam to heat the air around you, an Infrared Sauna uses metallic or ceramic elements that emit mainly far infrared energy. The radiant energy heats the body from the inside as well as from the surface and can penetrate about 3.5-4cm into the body, meaning better results, at lower temperatures.

Not only is the cooler temperature often more comfortable for people, but far-infrared also cleanses the tissue more effectively. Essentially, the heat creates an artificial fever and allows your body to detoxify toxins like heavy metals by taking the pressure off the internal detoxification organs. Additionally, colour therapy is an ancient healing modality where different spectrums of light provide different healing qualities including emotional release and the movement of energy from the head down to the body.

So.... What happens to your body in the sauna?

PHASE ONE: Your body temperature remains at basal level and sweating is minimal to light. Tissue heating occurs, however the body is able to dissipate the extra heat by increasing circulation and shunting blood to the skin in order to release heat instead of increasing body temperature.

PHASE TWO (after 10-30mins*): At this time, your body can no longer dissipate the heat of the sauna, causing your body temperature to rise, heart rate and sweating increases. Your blood is pushed to the surface which may create the feeling of a fever

Effects: all benefits of phase one, however now that your body temperature has increased, your body hastens the death of weakened cells, increased heart rate and circulation and your pathogenic microorganisms.

*Phase two begins at different times depending on your health (once your body temp jumps above 37.5 you have reached phase two).

Tips & Tricks:

BEFORE your session:

ideally wait 1-2 hours after a meal

drink 1/2L of water before starting

wipe your sweat with a face towel (provided) to promote more sweat

play our radio or meditation tapes on the USB in the sauna

remove all clothing and jewellery to get the maximum effect of the infrared rays

DURING your session:

move around every few mins so a new part of your body is exposed

keep your hands open as much as possible

relax and focus on your breathing

drink water throughout your session

AFTER your session:

shower as soon as you get out to wash off lingering toxins (use cold water for best effects)

avoid using soap, shampoo or moisturiser as this can block up the lovely open pores and stop the post-sauna detox effects

drink another 500mL of water over 10-30 mins

REST for at least 10-30 mins. This helps to transition the body back to balance and decreases the chance of lightheadedness or fatigue later in the day

many health practitioners recommend vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, zinc or even kelp to provide electrolyte and trace mineral replacement

We ALL experience pain, whether it be physical, mental or emotional.

How do you manage your pain?

To help you manage your pain more effectively, we have created the SEVEN points of pain management. These are: Float Therapy, FAR Infrared Sauna, Remedial Massage, Acupuncture, Integrative Remedial Therapy, Naturopathy and Kinesiology. To celebrate pain management, this week (Pain week) we will introduce a new therapy to you each day and explain how it can be used to help you manage your pain!

Have YOU tried our state-of-the-art floatation tanks?

Float Therapy is a unique form of holistic therapy perfect for achieving deep states of relaxation for your mind and body. As you effortlessly lie in our Magnesium Sulphate filled pods, you can completely shut off your mind and body with our stimulus-free environment.

Float tanks are also known as "Sensory Deprivation tanks" or "Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy" as they completely cut off the stimulus that we see daily. The zero-gravity weightlessness feel allows the relaxation of skeletal muscles as your body naturally falls into place within the water. Our clients often report positive effects for up to 48hours after their float.

~ Mental benefits include improved creativity, reduced anxiety, depression and nervousness, assisting to combat sleep disorders, increased mental clarity and, the synchronisation of your left and right brain hemispheres. These effects allow a deep state of meditation and relaxation to be easily reached.

Dr Thomas H. Fine and Robert A. Borrie studied the effects of Float Therapy on Chronic Pain and found:

"Floatation can have an important role at several stages of the pain management process. By reducing both muscle tension and pain in a relatively short time and without effort on the part of the patient, flotation provides a dramatic demonstration of the benefits of relaxation. Relief is immediate and, although temporary, offers promise of further relief from floatation and other relaxation-based strategies." In their research, they found extraordinary benefits for chronic pain patients. Most of the patients that utilised flotation tanks suffered from chronic pain for longer than six months and floated from one to 16 sessions. Overall, they reported a reduction in pain that averaged 31.3%, with the highest level of relief in the upper back at 63.6%.

Have you heard? We’ve got a state-of-the-art infrared sauna here at Freedom Float!

The F.A.R Infrared sauna is the most advanced in sauna technology. As the name suggests, it uses infrared light to create heat. While traditional saunas use heat from fire and water to warm the air, an infrared sauna heats your body like heavy metals from the body at a far more effective level than a regular sauna!

Check out the amazing benefits of the F.A.R Infrared Sauna:

Improved detoxification – can assist in flushing out toxins, heavy metals through out your body

Reduces stress by inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system (fright/flight system)

Balances the autonomic nervous system to enhance parasympathetic activity (rest and digest), which is essential for healing

Before using the sauna, you may want to consider the following precautions:

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Do not drink alcohol in a sauna as the alcohol and heat may trigger a cardiovascular event.

If you experience a headache after using a sauna, drink water and place a cool rag over your head to help relieve heat and head-pressure.

For men, if you and your partner are trying to have a baby, you'll want to steer clear of the sauna. As your body heat rises, so does the temperature of your testicles, reducing your fertility. The effect is reversible, but can take up to five weeks. (source; mercola.com)

Hey Freedom Community! Welcome to our blog! Do you believe it’s been a year since our doors first opened?! So much has happened between now and then, we can’t wait to update you! For starters, we've got Freedom up and running like a dream. With floating and sauna, yoga, naturopathy, acupuncture, massage, and even sound healing, we've really set our roots down in this wellness community! To celebrate our achievements, our birthday, and our amazing Freedom community we are hosting a FREE event this 11th of December from 10:00am - 3:30pm.

We will be celebrating in wellness style with businesses from our lovely Burleigh community, bringing you vendor stalls, live music, games, face-painting for the kids, a mermaid, and much more!

Here's a sneak peek at what's in store:

Wellness stalls

Workshops

Special Guest Speakers

Live music

Some Rawly Good Eats & Treats ;)

Lots of great prizes and giveaways

Fun stuff for the kids, including a real live mermaid!

So much more!

And to keep the celebration going, we are offering YOU the prezzies!Enjoy 2 floats for just $110 now at Freedom - and yes, you can share this with a friend without any additional fee! Ask for the Birthday Duo Pack. We’re hosting the offer until 31st December - so try not to wait! Your two floats will expire two months after purchase.

That's all for now, Freedom Fighters. Thanks for being such an integral part of our wellness community. We look forward to delivering awesome stuff to you in the months to come! Remember to Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with offers, specials, and awesome events!

Hello future Freedom Floaters!

Thanks for joining us on this exciting journey..

From the moment we made the decision 18 months ago that Freedom Float was going to be created, it’s been quite the exhilarating ride, with a few little bumps and detours on the way, but we are almost at the final destination of launch date!

We were advised by many, and learnt pretty fast that when starting a business, everything takes twice as long and can cost twice as much. This didn’t deter us the slightest, we experienced for ourselves the abundant benefits of floating, and knew we wanted to share this with the surrounding community and we were going to do all we could to make that happen.

We made the decision earlier on in the journey that the foremost priority for us was to not just offer our pods to our clients so they could experience first hand the benefits of floating, float therapy being an absolute state of freedom, yet to also offer a space where like-minded individuals are welcome to come recharge, create, meditate, chat over cups of herbal tea, attend a meditation workshop… and to just feel and be in a state of freedom. We as the founders of Freedom Float felt so passionately about facilitating this for others.

After choosing Burleigh Heads as the ideal location for Freedom Float Centre (we wanted to be central for most who visit our centre, and what better geographic location than Burleigh, the Wellness Hub) we endured countless meetings with banks, potential properties locked in, then falling through, plans drawn up and redrawn, lengthy council application processes.. To now get to the point where we have commenced our shop fit-out. Yay!

With our little freedom machines (the pods) safely in storage, fresh paint & signage to the front of the centre, we tick off the tasks each day progressing towards launch. This week all of the wall frameworks went up, the chill-out studio is going to look awesome. We’re looking forward to the point when the floors go down, then this means we can move the pods in & get those babies cranking!

As everything takes twice as long in business, so it does in shop-fit out it seems (although our builders & contractors are steadily working away with the prize of floats upon completion, dangled under their nose ;) ). We have been advised we will know an exact ball-park figure for the date of completion the next coming weeks, as soon as we hear this news, we will be passing on to all our fellow Freedom Fighters.

We are so pumped to share the Freedom Float space with you all. If you want to chat about the benefits of floating, or have any queries, feel free to call us on 0422 570 424. Looking forward to sharing more of our journey with you..